REVIEW: Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

Seeking Her by Cora Carmack (Losing It #3.5)
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
Publication Date: January 28, 2014
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

My Review

Seeking Her was a good prequel to Finding It. I didn’t really get to know Hunt in that book, but this one I got a sense of who he was. The good thing about Seeking Her was how it was not a retelling of Finding It. We follow Hunt just before Kelsey’s backpacking to Europe and just to the point where they finally meet in person. 

I was happy to see how tortured and imperfect Hunt was. I knew he was going through some stuff, but I didn’t really sympathize or understand until I read all about the depth of his emotions and all the demons he continued to battle. It was great to see how he saw Kelsey. There was something soft and deep about the way Hunt was. He saw things in a bad and good light and I liked that he was trying his hardest to be a good, better person for himself. 


While Seeking Her complements Finding It really well, I thought it was unnecessary to read and can be skipped without harm. I wish the book was longer, but then it would have been more of a retelling through Hunt’s eyes more than anything. While I did not completely love Seeking Her, I still appreciated being in Hunt’s head and getting a different perspective. 

All in all, Seeking Her was a good addition to the series. It only enhances it rather than hurts it, but it was not a need to read type of novel. 

REVIEW: FINDING IT by Cora Carmack

FINDING IT by Cora Carmack (Losing It #3)
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: October 15, 2013
Rating: 3/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

My Review

I was hoping that I would love FINDING IT just as much as I loved LOSING IT and FAKING IT. Unfortunately, Kelsey’s book was lacking the spark that the previous books had for me. Even so, I did find some parts worth mentioning that made be like the book anyway. 


Kelsey was an ok character. I didn’t have much of an impression or expectation of who she was in LOSING IT, so I wasn’t that invested in her. I liked her best when she was being funny, sarcastic and cracking jokes during her inner monologues. I even saw depth and sadness in her that made her a little bit more real and relatable. It was when she was running away from problems and playing games with Hunt that got on my nerves. It made her kind of unlikable. When I finally got to the root of why Kelsey was the way she was, I was nearly fed up with her attitude to feel anything for her.

I liked Hunt, at least from what I got from him. To be honest, I didn’t really get to know him. Personality wise, he was great. Sweet and caring and persistent. He just lacked character development. I liked that he had fun with Kelsey and he respected her. He made sure that she got a real adventure and stayed away from destructive behavior. 

My last gripe about this book had to be the twist and romance. I suspected the twist the second Hunt showed up where Kelsey was for the second time. I already drew my conclusions and was right and wasn’t surprised at all. It was pretty obvious and how Kelsey couldn’t connect the dots baffled me a bit. The romance was alright. It was nothing really too swoon-worthy. They were cute together, but it was too quick for my taste.

My favorite part of the book was definitely the traveling aspect and all the different places and cities Kelsey and Hunt go to. It wasn’t described too much, but I got the feel of some of the places from Budapest to Prague to Munich to Italy and Spain. It was great. Imagine my glee at seeing ‘Danke’ in this book and knowing what it meant because of my trip to Germany. It was pretty awesome. I wish I was brave enough (and rich enough) to go backpacking in Europe and not really have a set destination. I was definitely jealous of the adventure factor in this book.

All in all, FINDING IT was satisfactory. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing either. If anything, the need to know how it ends will drive you to finish the book.

REVIEW: My love letter to FAKING IT by Cora Carmack

FAKING IT by Cora Carmack (LOSING IT #2)
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Dear FAKING IT, 

Your companion and my sorry-not-sorry absolute favorite LOSING IT will always be near and dear to my heart and will be difficult to surpass by my biased unwavering love and loyalty, but FAKING IT, you must know that there was something about you that melted and captured my heart. The reason might be a certain someone with a four letter name.

First, let’s talk about this faking it ‘til it’s real trope (which I looooove) going on here. It was so unexpected for both Cade (*sighs*) and Max because it’s not everyday a girl comes up and asks a guy to be their pretend boyfriend. And let me tell you, I was riveted from that point on. The attraction and the connection and chemistry and sexual tension just kept on building and building until it exploded into this gooey, swoony, heart racing thing that I was all down for. Cade and Max’s little charade started to become something more as they got to know one another, as they hung out more, as they got around the other’s walls and especially when the kisses (can’t blame ‘em) were just too good to stop.

I was a fan of Cade already from LOSING IT. I was pretty sad that he couldn’t be with Bliss and wasn’t sure how I’d feel about him being with someone else. But holy hot Golden Boy did Cade step it up because damn I can’t even. Cade was sweet, genuine, and so selfless, but he was also so freaking seductive and sensual too. I did not think he had it him, but woah baby he sure did. I adored how he readily agreed to Max’s charade and ultimately ended up helping her push through her demons in the long run. He always made sure that Max knew that she was the most beautiful, worthy and spectacular woman there was. Cade just knew how to make a girl feel good about herself and he meant it in every way.

As for Max, the girl had some serious family drama, but I loved how she fought for her love of music, how passionate she was about singing, how she lived at the beat of her own drum. She was this firecracker of a girl who was fearless and mesmerizing and her only kryptonite was her conservative parents. I really liked her dyed hair, her beautiful tattoos, her sassy mouth, and just how far she has come emotionally and mentally. I just really dug Max’s style.

So FAKING IT, my only complaint about you was the abrupt ending that really did end too quickly! It wasn’t that I wanted more (let’s be real, I do) I just wished it was drawn out a little bit more than it could have been. Nonetheless, FAKING IT, you have given me an outstanding read! I ate you up, giggled, squealed, fanned myself during those intense make out seshes, and probably hugged you so tight when I finished, you probably couldn’t breathe (if books did breath). In other words, my sweetest FAKING IT, you rocked my bookish world and then some. 



Love love love,


Jessirae xx



P.S. Milo and Spencer made such an impression on me, please tell your maker, the amazingness Cora Carmack, that they each need a book of their own!

Release Day Launch: SEEKING HER by Cora Carmack

We are so excited to share in the Release Day Launch and giveaway for Cora Carmack's SEEKING HER!! SEEKING HER is a novella in Cora’s bestselling Finding It Series, published by William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins)! Go out and grab your copy today!

Jackson Hunt gets his turn in this Finding It prequel novella…

Jackson Hunt hasn't been out of the military for long, but he needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he is going to keep his demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Becoming bodyguard (and babysitter) to spoiled rich girl Kelsey Summers isn't exactly what he had in mind, but it's a chance to travel, to get away. The catch: Kelsey's father doesn't want her to know she's being followed.

She's vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When Jackson sees her falling into the same patterns he suffered years ago, he decides it's time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know Kelsey is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N

SEEKING HER Excerpt:

I was going to have to find some way to cope with this. If not, I was better off calling Mr. Summers and suggesting he find someone else to take over his daughter-watch.

I felt a pang of something at that thought. It was a general kind of discomfort, and I wasn’t sure whether it was the thought of returning home or something else that made that thought so unappealing.

After the cooling walk earlier, and now standing under the cool, calming rush of water, it was easier to think that I could control myself, but I knew better. It always seemed easier in my head than it really was.

I wiped the water from my eyes, and tried to think of some other way to deal. There was always the hope that Kelsey would get bored. That she would mellow out. If she only partied a couple nights a week, I should be able to resist. But that seemed unlikely.

All that restless energy; the way she’d soaked up the attention from the people around her. I couldn’t see her giving that up. And it was working for her. She was still in the phase where partying made her feel good. That was the one thing that helped me stay clean. The few times I’d slipped up since I started the program had left me miserable and angry, and even more frustrated than when I started. I’d found new ways to chase the high. And maybe that wasn’t any healthier, not when one way involved being in the midst of flying bullets.

It wasn’t the same kind of rush, but it did the trick. I pictured Kelsey again, laughing with her head thrown back, her shirt falling off her shoulder and displaying the gentle curve of her neck. It reminded me of the way she’d tossed her head back that first day out in the woods.

The memory of that caused a different kind of rush in me, and I groaned, pressing my forehead into the tile. Before I could help myself, I pictured her long legs straddling that guy in the gardens. The bright green material of her bra, and the way it conformed to her perfect chest. She leaned back, her fingertips trailing from the bark of the tree to his shoulders.

In an instant, the memory shifted into fantasy, and those were my shoulders she clung to, not his.

That was my undoing. There was only so much resisting I could do in one night.

--------------------------------------

About the Author

 Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Excerpt Blast: SEEKING HER by Cora Carmack

SEEKING HER by Cora Carmack 

Expected publication: January 24, 2014

Pre-order (it's only $0.99! zomg)

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Book Description:

Jackson Hunt gets his turn in this Finding It prequel novella …

Jackson Hunt hasn't been out of the military for long, but he needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he is going to keep his demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Becoming bodyguard (and babysitter) to spoiled rich girl Kelsey Summers isn't exactly what he had in mind, but it's a chance to travel, to get away. The catch: Kelsey's father doesn't want her to know she's being followed.

She's vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When Jackson sees her falling into the same patterns he suffered years ago, he decides it's time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know Kelsey is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

Exclusive Excerpt of Seeking Her by Cora Carmack by WilliamMorrowBooks

About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

REVIEW: My love letter to KEEPING HER by Cora Carmack

KEEPING HER by Cora Carmack (LOSING IT #1.5)
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: August 13, 2013
Source: Edelweiss via publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

Dear KEEPING HER,



Like the sister before you, I am writing you this love letter review to basically tell you and Cora Carmack and the whole world how much I adore you. You are a tease in so many ways and yet you left me content by giving me a dose of the Bliss and Garrick love I have missed oh so much. 

I was thrilled that Cora Carmack decided to write a continuation of what I originally fell in love with in LOSING IT. I believe she has the magic touch because it’s just so easy to get lost into Carmack’s writing, so of course reading you was better than a walk in the park or eating a popsicle on a really hot day. I didn’t even realize the few hours that have passed until I finished praying-wishing-hoping-yearning for more. 


Let me go ahead and tell you that I absolutely, positively loved being in Garrick’s head! It was like the whip cream and cherry on top of an already delectable hot fudge sundae. I really got to know him on a much more deeper and intimate level. I liked knowing who he was before and where he came from. I couldn’t help but feel warm fuzzies in my heart at how much Garrick loved Bliss. At how much he made her feel beautiful. I just loved his sweetness, the way he called her “love” and how he continually reassured her. Especially the little things he did for Bliss like the marry me and airplane seat thing, the man was just perfection. And can I mention that Garrick was already sexy, but dirty talkin’ Garrick was triple X sexxxy. *fans self*

“We’re going to meet my parents. We’ll smile and talk long enough that they feel like they’ve met you, then we’re finding a place to be alone. My bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, I don’t care where. The only thing I care about is fucking you so hard you can’t see straight.”

Like, holy french toast, KEEPING HER! You really know how to make a girl blush and swoon! 

I really missed Bliss and her awkward, silly, quirky, and charming self. She doesn’t even have to try, really. I just love her. Adore her. I liked that though Garrick told her it didn’t matter what his mother thought, it mattered to her. It was cute to see her unsure and flustered. I just loved her overactive outrageous imagination. Bliss was so freaking hilarious, I couldn’t even. I did felt some sadness at the way Bliss worried and questioned herself, but like always, I knew she would rise up to the challenge!

“If I couldn’t be near him, I wanted to wear his clothes or sleep on his side of the bed. I was a creeper. I could accept that.”

I love you, KEEPING HER because you not only gave me super cute I-want-to-die-from-happiness moments with Bliss and Garrick, but you also let Carmack throw a twist in there that totally had my heart racing. And I really liked that though Bliss and Garrick had their happily ever after in LOSING IT, they weren’t this perfect couple, but two people who were reachable, relatable and grounded. Cora Carmack just keeps getting better and better and damn, I’m so ridiculously in love with her writing it’s what I call crazy stupid love, (possibly borderline obsession, but don’t tell her that!) Don’t even get me started on that Game of Thrones and Harry Potter reference(s). Freaking brilliant. 

My dear KEEPING HER, you are short and sweet and everything nice. You gave me a wonderful glimpse of what happens with Garrick and Bliss after LOSING IT and I couldn’t have asked for more! (Though I really do want more *winks*).

Love forever and ever,

Jessirae xx

*Thanks to William Marrow for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion

Read my love letter review to LOSING IT!

Cover Reveal: FINDING IT by Cora Carmack

FINDING IT by Cora Carmack (Losing It #3)

Expected Publication Date by HarperCollins: October 1, 2013

Book Description:

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life...or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

My thoughts

woah woah woah, someone please hold the phone because I'm frrreeeeaaaking out.

NEEDS THIS SO HARD.

REVIEW: My love letter to LOSING IT by Cora Carmack

Title: LOSING IT
Author: Cora Carmack
Publication Date (Paperback): February 6, 2013
Format: ebook, 288 pages
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible—a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half a brain would ever believe.

And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor.

She'd left him naked in her bed about eight hours earlier. . . .

My dearest and ever so wonderful LOSING IT,



First and foremost, I must confess that you have slayed me. You have taken it upon your bookish self to grasp me with your claws and hold me tight, and sweet hell, after you were done with me I was ever so willing to stay in your clutches for all eternity. I still am, if I’m truly being honest. You have made me feel all the feels one could possibly imagine with wanting to feel. 


I was downright addicted the moment Bliss showed up on page. That girl made the most awkwardest scenes super duper hilarious I may have almost died from excessive laughter. My cheeks ached from all my foolish grinning throughout the whole book. Bliss was super cool, very talented and just one endearing character I greatly had the pleasure of getting to know. She was a wonderful friend, knew how to have a good time and was just one amazing, friendly girl. There really isn’t anything that could possibly make me dislike the girl. (well, except for the fact that she has Garrick.. *grumbles*)

"I'm in love with this burrito. I would marry it if I didn't want to eat it so badly."

Garrick. *cue sighing and swooning please* Now Garrick was a whole other story. He was the perfect, wrapped up in goodness type of package. That sexy, delectable, can-I-please-have-him, British man was downright yummy. Not only was he straight up sexified, he was smart and funny and independent and cute and gorgeous and drool-worthy. Did I mention he was hot? Yep, he sure was. Best thing about him? He was caring, he was a one hundred percent gentleman even when you didn’t want him to be! He was not afraid to say what was on his mind and he had confidence and swagger like no other. I think Garrick can be loved by all because of his amazing personality and how he can get along with just about anybody. His sex-appeal was off the charts and by god, if that accent of his didn't make me fall head over heels, then I don’t know what did! 

"I'm trying to give you what you want. It's hard when I let myself go, when I kiss you how I want to. Because all I can think about then is how your skin tastes, and how much I want to taste it again."

The sexual tension piling up between these two was electrifying, explosive, and basically like the cereal: snap, crackle and pop! LOSING IT, you really should tell Cora Carmack that she did more than a fine job of developing these two character’s relationship and giving me exactly what I wanted out of them and more! They weren’t just sweet, but pinch-cheeks adorable. It was very obvious how much passion and fun Carmack had when creating you and this was all portrayed through her writing because I had the best time reading you, LOSING IT, even if I didn’t get a wink of sleep. You were the icing to my cake and the cherry on top of my sundae; basically perfection in its sheerest form and I love you so damn much I could kiss you if you had lips! You were more than just a story about a girl wanting to lose her virginity. You were a story about love, believing in that love, fighting for that love, chasing after your dreams, and giving it your best. I revel in the joy and happiness you have given me and I’m sure it will take a lot for another story to come as close to you.

So, my dear friend, LOSING IT, you were one intense tension of sexy, funny, and awkward that I lovelovelove to bits and pieces times infinity a million. Please tell Cora Carmack that she has made me a fan of her work for life and I simply cannot sit around waiting for what’s next to come! 


Forever yours truly,

Jessirae xx

P.S. This is reason number 8646393 on why I heart you bunches of oats..

"Are you going to me put me in your phone under some secret code name so that no one knows who I am when I text you dirty thing?"

My eyes widened. "Are you planning to text me dirty things?"

His eyes danced with amusement and that blinding grin was back on his face. "I'm not ruling it out."

Cover Reveal: FAKING IT by Cora Carmack

First we got Garrick. 

Now we have Cade.

FAKING IT by Cora Carmack
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
From: William Morrow Paperbacks

Book Description:

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

My thoughts?

HOLY SWEET BABY BISCUITS.

Cade is looking mighty fine up there. 

Like I said on twitter, I would really like to make sweet sweet love to this cover. 

It is perfection!!

I totally adored Cade in LOSING IT, so I'm super ecstatic that he's going to have his own book :)))))

Cade, my love, I'm so ready for yoooooou.

JUNE COME FASTER. 

_____________________

LOSING IT by Cora Carmack

Paperback release: February 26, 2013

Pre-order this baby: Amazon | B&N | IndieBound

ya know you want it.. ;)